Add fragrance and beauty to a sunny spot by growing lavender in pots.
Growing lavender in pots lets you enjoy this ultra-fragrant herb wherever you have a sunny spot.
in small, sunny spots, such as a south-facing entryway, patio, or balcony.
Credit: Laurie Black
Get started on your own potted lavender patch with this step-by-step planting guide.
Plus, get must-know tips for successfully growing lavender in pots.
Plastic, fiber, and resin pots are lightweight and easy to move.
Ceramic and stone planters also work well.
If your chosen container doesnt have drainage holes in the bottom, add them before planting the lavender.
Lavender plants grow in a roughly circular outline about 18 inches in diameter.
Pots 36 inches or larger in diameter can fit more than one lavender plant.
Use a well-draining potting mix.
Lavender is a dryland native, so its roots demand loosesoil with excellent drainage.
High-quality potting soil paired with a pot that has ample drainage holes creates a welcoming environment for lavender.
Fill the container two-thirds full of potting soil.
Tamp the soil to eliminate large air pockets.
Transplants will grow a dense mound of foliage and even bloom during the first growing season.
Plant lavender in the container.
Remove your lavender transplant from its nursery pot and set it in the planter.
Tamp the soil to eliminate large air pockets, and then water the plant.
Lavender needs at leastsix to eight hours of direct sun dailyto grow well and produce abundant flower spikes.
The south or west side of a home is ideal.
Be mindful of nearby trees or structures that cast shade, obscuring the direct rays of the sun.
Lavender is drought-tolerant; overwatering is the most common cause of this herb’s demise.
Potted lavender requires less frequent watering than mostother container plants.
Fertilizing
Lavender needs minimal fertilizer.
Over-fertilized plants produce an abundance of foliage and few flowers.
Too much fertilizer also makes the plants more vulnerable to pests, diseases, and cold weather injury.
Pruning
Prune lavender in springwhen green leaves emerge at the base of the plant.
Remove approximately one-third of the length of each stem, shaping the plant as you go.
Annual pruning prevents the plant from developing a woody center and wayward shape.
Pests and Troubleshooting
Lavender has few pest or disease problems.
Root rot from overwatering is the biggest issue to watch out for.
Check the soil moisture an inch below the surface before watering.
Dont water unless the soil is dry, and dont allow pots to stand in water-filled pot saucers.
Its best not to use a pot saucer when growing lavender in a container.
Allow the water to drain from the pot freely.
Provide extra insulation in Zones 56 by packing leaves or mulch around the pot.
Spread a couple of inches of mulch over the soil surface.
The length of bloom is influenced by the specific variety, growing conditions, and climate.
Most lavenders will fill this space in two to four years when they mature, depending on variety.
